Over Three-Quarters of Children in Austria Own Smartphones

Over Three-Quarters of Children in Austria Own Smartphones

Image: APA/dpa/Tobias Hase

 

A new survey has found that more than three-quarters (77%) of children in Austria now own a smartphone or tablet.

The survey, commissioned by Google and conducted by US market research institute GutCheck, shows that children in Austria typically receive their first smartphone at the age of ten.

Some 58% of children aged five to eight own a smartphone or tablet, rising to 81% among nine- to twelve-year-olds. In the 13 to 17 age group, nine in ten children have their own device.

The survey also found that online usage increases with age. Nearly half (49%) of all children in Austria spend one to three hours online each day. Among five- to eight-year-olds, 45% are online for this amount of time, while 58% of nine- to twelve-year-olds do the same. Among 13 to 17-year-olds, 44% spend one to three hours online, with another 44% spending between three and six hours a day online.

As children’s digital presence continues to grow, many parents are facing the challenge of establishing online safety rules. According to the survey, 79% of parents in Austria have discussed online safety with their children in the past year, though this is lower than the 87% of parents in Germany.

Forty percent of parents say they find it difficult to find the right time for these important conversations, while 48% admit they lack clear examples to explain online safety. Despite these challenges, 87% believe their children would turn to them if they faced an issue online.

To manage screen time, 74% of parents limit how long their children spend in front of screens, and 32% use digital tools to help enforce these limits. Over 60% of parents of younger children find age-appropriate online safety guides to be the most useful resource in educating their children, with Google providing such guides to assist parents in this task.

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